Summer Mantel:Take Two {adding reclaimed shutters}

July 15, 2011

There was something missing from my “Beachy” mantel. I couldn’t put my finger on it yesterday. Then last night as I was getting ready for bed I remembered some free shutters that I picked up by the side of the road on trash day a few months ago. Perfect!! You know how a flashbulb goes off in your mind?

A fast, easy and free solution to my decorating dilemma!

Before

So this morning I dusted off those old shutters and dug through my spraypaint stash for some paint. I painted the first coat the same “aqua” color as the frame on my mantel. And then when it was finished drying, I added “heirloom white” over the top.

The last thing I did was get my trusty mouse sander and I roughed it all up so the delicious aqua peeks through as well as the original brown color and the bare wood. I love the dimension that sanding adds!!

Then I put it on my mantel. I opened the shutters a little so that the reflection of the mirror still comes through and lights up the room. Then I rearranged some of the mantel items.

And I put the little canvas pennant at the top of the mantel. I got the little sewn pennant shapes from The Canvas Corp. I love the plain canvas with my beach theme.

PS — While my shutters were drying, I ran to Home Depot and got some samples for my kitchen makeover. Here’s what we have so far. Any opinions?? the cabinets are now white so I was thinking a warm grey would be pretty….

Comments

Hi….It feels so nice to find somebody with some original thoughts on this subject. Really thankful to you for starting this. This is really informative and I will for sure refer my friends the same. Thanks…

How funny that you are painting your kitchen gray with white cabinets. I just had mine painted gray with white cabinets. Actually, I have white bead board and chair rail on the bottom half and gray on the top. And painted my kitchen table and chairs white and yellow. So pretty…but not done yet.

I still have to get new counters and sink/faucet. And I'm trying to convince the hubs to let me have a black and white checkered floor to finish it off.

BTW, I picked medium shade of gray from Lowe's Glidden Pebble Gray.

And I love the shutters…why can't I find fun stuff like this while I thrift shop

Beautiful mantle! I love it all – especially that wreath! But the shutters really pull it all together. I love shutters and grab them whenever I find them at ReStore. My mantel has a large old photo my Dad took in the 1940's so I can't cover that up. I'll find a place for more soon!As for the colors, I like #1 or #3. Two different looks but gorgeous colors!Thanks for hosting

I've seen so many great projects with shutters lately! So fun! I love the grays for your kitchen. I would go witht the 3rd from the top…I like a gray without the beige undertones:) We just painted the interior of our Airstream a nice gray color.

The shutters are the perfect touch… love that you opened them to capitalize the reflection from your mirror!We're on the same page with kitchen color; can't wait to see what you choose. So many options, it's a little overwhelming. Happy Friday!Heidi @ Show Some Decor

Hi Jen! I love your mantel. The shutters are the perfect touch. I have shutters on my mantel too and love them. I love the little canvas pennant and all your other beachy fun stuff too. I just painted my kitchen, dining room and living room gray. It feels a lot more calm in there now. I love the 2nd or 4th one you have on your wall. Have a great day.

I love the second gray down from the top. I am so obsessed with grays. My kitchen/Dining Room/ Living Room is Wood Smoke by glidden (a smokey gray) I love it!! Great mantel by the way.. I love your creativity…